This weekend, I'm excited to share my new play, ARDEO, a one act play inspired by research and personal narratives of health practitioners and patients at UNC-CH’s North Carolina’s Jaycee Burn Center. This play explores how patients and doctors communicate with each other; how health practitioners communicate with the public; and how theatre artists can be of service to patients, doctors and the larger public. From the perspective of scientists and medical providers, the involvement of the dramatic arts represents a unique opportunity to appreciate the meaning of one’s work and to gain new insights and perspectives regarding its relevance. Narrative medicine not only serves the public health sector and works to improve the effectiveness of care, but it also offers as a healing tool for patients in recovery.

My interest in narrative medicine began as I watched my mother recover from multiple back surgeries. She worked for many years as a nurse and was injured by a patient. Her entire world was changed by this injury and she is now incapacitated. As I watched her health care team attend to the needs of her body, I longed for them to address her psychological health: how this injury would shift who she is in the world. This aspect of caring for the whole person is something that I see happening at the Burn Center. My hope is that ARDEO encourages other health care practitioners to do the same. If you're in the area, I hope you can join us!

Rehearsal photos by Christine Rucker

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My Blog

I'm a playwright, dramaturg, and teaching artist. It is here where you'll find my queries and musings on life, theater and the world. My posts advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity in the American Theatre and updates on my own work. Please enjoy!